Pursuit of Something New
Categorising: Ainsley Hayes / Ann Stark - The Wing Swing
challenge
Rating: R (Innuendo, bad thoughts and a little bit of language)
Disclaimer: I don’t own them. I don’t have any money. There’s really
not much more to add.
Summary: “Everyone was lapping it up, everyone was a player.”
~*~
Heat was hanging low over the city and Washington seemed to be
deserted. Congress was on recess, the distinguished men and women
fleeing home to persuade constituents to vote them in again, trying
to prove they cared for the people they served. The President had
gone home for a few weeks, on the First Lady’s orders to allow his
body to heal. The circus that surrounded the President had followed
him, anxious to leave the sweaty surroundings for cooler climates.
The only people left in Washington were tourists and lobbyists with
no one to lobby.
When there was a lack of people to lobby, the persuaders turned on
each other. Half a dozen newly graduated New Yorkers were brought in
to scare at one firm, while head hunters from another offered
impossible benefits. A rumour was spread that Washington was no
longer the right place to lobby, that distinction had been stolen by
California or Texas or the antique ruins of the European Union.
Rumours seeped through the air conditioning units like a fatal dose
of Legionnaires disease, yet no one was able to pull themselves away
from them.
This was the summer of women, Ainsley decided as she sat in the
Starbucks watching several deals being sealed around her. Everywhere
she looked females were taking control as the politicians tried to
snatch the elusive women’s vote. Soccer moms, wizened grandmas,
sorority girls. Every politician wanted to add them to their numbers.
So they employed female help.
Everyone was lapping it up, everyone was a player. Mandy Hampton
had begun the exodus to Europe, taking as many followers as her
credibility allowed. Amy Gardner had a firm grip on the Women’s
groups, making a lengthy list of demands she wanted, and another
lengthy list of people she wanted working for her. On the other side
of the ledger Ann Stark was the big name in the business, rounding up
a select group of allies and minions. There were a million chances
for women at the moment and Ainsley was anxious to grab one of them.
She was happy with her job for the moment. The GOP had given her
employment at the request of her father, and there was always plenty
of work to keep her occupied. Occasionally, when they wished to
soften their grumpy old men persona, they’d let her write a scathing
op ed or trundle her out to smile at the cameras. It was a decent
job, it just wasn’t really the fast track to political success that
Ainsley was aiming at.
So she was in Starbucks, her Raspberry Mocha Frappaccino warming,
as she waited for her cell phone to ring. It had to ring, she’d
spread her name and credentials in a million different directions
across the whole damn town. There had to be someone who wanted to
give her a new opportunity. Jaquiline, her contact up on the Hill,
had mentioned some people who’d come from New York in search of new
blood. But then, you could never really trust Jaquiline to tell you
the truth. She liked to say all sorts of pleasing things she didn’t
really mean.
This was quite the heartbreak town. Jaquiline had been just one
chapter in the disaster story she was involved in. She’d been here
for a year now and had her heart crushed by a grand total of eleven
people: seven men and four women. The guys only wanted her to hang
off their arms as if she were a demented sex slave. The women wanted
to feel the power they thought she had. It seemed that she was
destined to disappoint both groups.
She’d started dating boys in eighth grade with her father’s
blessing. The girls had come in her Junior year of High School
without any blessing whatsoever. They had lived in a college town,
and Ainsley often studied in the college library that was vastly
superior to their pathetic high school version. She’d become friendly
with some of the regulars in the library, friendly enough to
accompany one girl to a dusty corner where the lighting had failed.
The older girl had smoothed her hair and kissed her, and run her
fingertips between Ainsley’s breasts. She taught Ainsley how to use
her fingers in new and inventive ways, and how good the breath of
another woman felt on her ears.
Ainsley had never officially ‘come out’. Her parents had no idea,
but that wasn’t all that surprising. Her mother hadn’t paid attention
since her daughter was six years old, and no father wants to know
what their daughter’s sex life is like. Very few of her friends knew,
and those who had found out had their own secrets to worry about. She
admitted that there was a certain risk in pursuing women now that her
career had started, but she was still small fishing. She wagered that
there wasn’t a person in D.C. without mouldy skeletons in their
closets, she wasn’t the only one in this town who was dating on both
sides of the fence.
Her cell phone trilled. Ainsley didn’t recognise the number as she
answered. “Ainsley Hayes.”
“Hi Ainsley. I’m glad I caught you. This is Ann Stark.”
“Hi Ann.” This wasn’t a call she’d been expecting. Ann Stark was
shaping up as the hottest thing to hit the Republican party. There
was talk of a bidding war already occurring between the major figures
of the party, all of them trying to buy her sharp mind and uneverving
negotiation skills. They all wanted to employ her in the new year
when the campaign business was wrapped up.
“I hear that you’ve been on the search for something new,
Ainsley.” Ann’s voice was a smooth as a good scotch and twice as
dangerous. Ainsley wondered what it would feel like to have that
voice whispering in her ear.
“That would be a correct assessment of my current situation, yes.”
She held her breath, hoping that this was a lead up to her dream job.
“Can we meet some time? I’d like to talk with you in person.”
Ainsley felt her insides turn a little. “Sure. I’m free tonight,
or tomorrow if that would suit you better?”
“Tonight would be good. 8 o’clock at the Heresay Bar? Do you know
where that is?”
“Sure. I’ll see you then.”
“Good.” Ann hung up the phone before Ainsley could say goodbye.
She disregarded this small rudeness, she was too happy about the
chance of a new job. One where she could be going places, doing real
things with meaning.
- - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -
“Ainsley.” The sound of a voice prompted her to turn around. Ann
Stark was standing behind her, immaculate in a crisp blue blouse and
a grey skirt with an impossibly high split. She was late, but Ainsley
knew better than to complain. There was always something that could
make you late when you worked in this business; it was easy to get
caught on minute details.
“Ann, it’s good to see you.” She held out her hand to be shaken,
hoping that her skin wasn’t as hot and clammy as she felt inside.
“This is a nice place.”
Ann slipped into the seat across from Ainsley. “It is isn’t it?
Quiet and dark, no prying eyes. The drinks are affordable, the
conversation witty.” Her eyes examined Ainsley. “I reserve it for the
best company.”
Ainsley had half expected this flirting. No one did business in
this town without involving sexual tension. When they thinned the
smoke filled rooms, they had begun cracking on to each other. “Ann,
are you offering me a job or are you flirting with me?”
Her laugh was a rich chainsaw of a sound. “You are amusing,
Ainsley Hayes, very amusing. I’m not sure we can’t work both in if
that’s what we want. But right at this moment I’d like to talk about
a job.”
“When you are talking about a job, what exactly would it be that
you are referring to?” Ainsley winced at the way the words tumbled
from her mouth. Five years of elocution lessons worth less than a
penny.
“I’m putting together a team to help us regain the White House.”
Ann put the highest note of haughtiness into her speech and Ainsley
was afraid she was going to drown in it.
“How do you plan exactly, to do this? I mean, with all respect,
you’re really nothing more than a lobbyist. Anyway, in case you
haven’t noticed, we’ve got two and a half years until the next
presidential election.”
“I’ll have an official position by the new year. It’s a long term
plan.” Ainsley wondered why she was allowing Ann to be so
condescending. “It’s never too early to start defeating a President.”
“But this particular President?” She could almost see drool
running down Ann’s chin. “The President who, along with his loyal
Deputy Chief of Staff, was shot less than a month ago? Do you really
think this is the best time to attack?”
Ann widened her eyes, making Ainsley ask herself if this was some
cheesy drama piece they were acting out. “Why, I don’t want to attack
him now.” A smile crossed her face. “I want to wait until they
falter, then I’m going to be prepared to hit hard.”
“And you want me on your team?”
“It’s on my thoughts.”
Ainsley was tiring of Ann’s theatrics. “Do you really want me or
do you want my father’s name and money?”
“You misunderstand me.” Ann stretched her legs out under the
table. “I want young, attractive, steady women, who are able to
represent the new breed of Republicans. Someone who stands for
smaller government and the underlying morals of a modern time.
Someone who believes we should keep more of the money we earn, rather
than wasting it on old fashioned welfare programs. The New Deal is a
good seventy years old. The Great Society is thirty-five years old.
It’s time for the GOP to drag social programs into the 21st Century.”
“But you wouldn’t mind my father’s money?”
Ann’s smile showed too many teeth. “It would be a potential bonus,
yes.”
Ainsley nodded. “Can you let me think about it? I could get back
to you in a day or two?”
“Sure. Just remember that I want you Ainsley.”
- - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - -
Ainsley paced back and forward across her kitchen. The phone hung
on the cream coloured wall, mocking her with choices and
possibilities. She turned her back on the offending unit and
rehearsed what she should say.
“Ann. I’m flattered that you thought to offer me a position of
this stature. I would be honoured if I were able to take it, but I’m
afraid that would be entirely impossible. You see, I’m afraid I would
spend all my time wanting to see you naked. . .” Ainsley shook her
head, trying to physically remove the image.
“Ann. I’d love to join your team. But I have some conditions that
will need to be met first. So, will you sleep with me?” She grinned
and fashioned Ann’s imaginary response. “I’d love to Ainsley. Why
don’t you come over to my place now? Don’t wear any panties.”
Neither of these speeches would be appropriate, she concluded. It
was unfortunate, it had been almost forty-eight hours since Ann had
made her original phone call and she shouldn’t be keeping Ann
waiting. But it was getting hard to concentrate on a legitimate
response when all she could think of was Ann’s lips, and the way she
moved her shoulders, and the split in her skirt showing the long
curves of her legs.
“Stop it Ainsley.” She chided. “Just make a decision, yes or no,
then formulate an appropriate response. Stop this utter stupidity.”
She hoisted herself up on the kitchen bench to compile her mental
list. “I really want a job that will give my career a forward push.
But Ann could be old news by January and I’d be forced to start all
over again. The pay will probably be crap, but the work should be
exciting. I’d be more valued by my peers, but I’d also be opening
myself to the possibility of attacks.” She sighed and glared at the
phone. “I suppose it really depends on how I feel about working with
Ann.” Ainsley picked up the phone and dialled the number she had
already committed to memory.
“Ann. Hi it’s Ainsley. Sorry about disturbing you on a Saturday.
Look, I was wondering if we could arrange another meeting, discuss
this a little more? I was thinking tonight, at the Heresay again?
That would be great. I’ll see you then.”
Ainsley hung up the phone and made a beeline for her wardrobe.
There was no way Ann was going to out-dress her tonight.
- - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - -
The air was still heavy and Ainsley would have given anything for
a cool breeze as she paid the cab driver. She was five minutes late,
hoping to give a relaxed impression with her tardiness. She shivered
at the sudden cool change as the air conditioning hit her. Rubbing
her arms, she skimmed the small tables and intimate booths in a
search for Ann.
“I see I’m right on time.” Ainsley was startled by Ann’s voice
breathing behind her. She turned, smoothing down her skirt.
“Good to see you Ann. I was just looking for you.” Ainsley
grimaced inside. Why was she always so awkward?
“Well you’ve found me now.” Ann hooked her arm through Ainsley’s
and led her to a booth as if they were old friends. If it hadn’t been
for Ann’s thumb stroking Ainsley's arm, even Ainsley would have
thought them to be just friends.
“Are you getting a drink?” Ainsley asked. She didn’t want to think
about the way Ann had piled her hair up on top of her head, with
tendrils straining to escape. She didn’t want to think about Ann’s
long, milky white neck, or the frail necklace with its tiny pendant
resting between her fine collar bones.
Ann tucked a stray curl behind her ear. “They come to me here.”
Ainsley heard the clatter of Ann’s shoes as she kicked them off.
“That’s a cute outfit you’ve got on there.”
Ainsley felt terribly young as she compared her outfit with Ann’s.
She was attired in a stormy blue skirt and white blouse and she felt
as if she were a little girl playing dress ups. Ann looked stunning
in her biscuit coloured suit, with the cream blouse underneath held
by the bare minimum of buttons.
Ann attracted the young waiter with a raised eyebrow, smoothing
his name through her teeth as she gave her order. “Steven. I want a
Cosmopolitan. And my friend here would like . . .?”
“Just a ginger ale, thank you.” Ainsley didn’t trust herself to
drink alcohol when Ann looked like that.
“You’re not going to get drunk with me?” Ann pouted a little,
tapping Ainsley’s ankle with her bare toes in the darkness under the
table.
Ainsley endeavoured to keep her breathing steady. “I prefer to
keep my wits about me.”
“Are you sure you’re not just a little afraid of me?” Ainsley
wasn’t sure how Ann’s smile could grow any wider, but it did.
“If you continue to talk in that manner, people are going to start
confusing you with me.” Ainsley slipped her own shoes off, allowing
the cool air to tickle her feet.
“You’re a lot of fun, Ainsley. Has anyone ever told you that?”
Ainsley ran her foot over Ann’s leg, moving it up towards her
knee. “Many, many times.”
Ann raised her well tended eyebrows. “You’ve done this before.
Well, Ainsley Hayes isn’t the goody two shoes everyone thinks she
is.”
“You could infer that to be the case.” Ainsley put her hand on the
table, her heart racing as Ann’s hand fluttered on top. Ann’s
fingernails were short and painted a vivid red, as if she was
displaying the blood she had extracted from her political enemies.
Ann leant her head forward as if she was sharing a secret, despite
the fact that there was no one sitting around them. “You find me
attractive, don’t you?”
“Yes.” There was no point being coy about this. Ann would swallow
her whole if she believed she had the upper hand. “And I assume that
you too, happen to find a certain attractiveness in me.”
Ann ran her tongue over her top lip. “Do you always use such long
sentences?” She rubber her thumb down the side of Ainsley’s hand.
“You do stop talking at some point, don’t you?”
Throwing all caution to the wind, Ainsley moved her head in close
to Ann. “It depends on how skilful you are.”
Ann shook her head. “What are we still doing here, Ainsley? Why
don’t you come home with me so we can just fuck and get it over
with?”
Ainsley got to her feet. “I was waiting for your invitation.”